KOTA BARU: More than 20 illegal routes have been identified that are still active and being used by individuals and smugglers to cross over to Kelantan and vice-versa.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the illegal routes were located in Pasir Mas and Rantau Panjang areas.
"Police will not call these illegal routes by their names as we never gazetted them with names. However, based on the number of cases where several people were caught entering Kelantan by crossing Sungai Golok since Dec 1, we have identified more than 20 illegal routes used by this group and which are still active," he said.
He added the General Operations Force (GOF), including the elite Senoi Praaq unit, would continue monitoring these illegal routes.
Kelantan police have enforced a ban on illegal crossings beginning Dec 1. Those caught may be fined up to RM10,000 for breaching Section 5 (2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Meanwhile, checks along the Kelantan/Thai border today showed that the General Operations Force personnel were continuing to patrol the border areas especially the illegal routes that had previously been used by locals to cross to the neighbouring country.
However, no one was spotted using the routes which are surrounded by thick bushes.
There are also about 140 illegal jetties located along the border and most are located in Rantau Panjang.